West Ham Engine House
History
West Ham pumping station was built to raise West Ham sewage to the level of Sir Joseph Bazalgette’s Northern Outfall sewer (1864) along which it could then flow under gravity to Beckton works for treatment. Work started in 1897 and by c.1900 the station was completed, originally as a combined pumping and electric power station.
A rare pair of Lilleshall Wolfhound beam engines remain in the engine house. The last beam engine to run was engine two, which ceased operation at 12.00 noon on 10th January 1972.
There were plans to remove the engines for preservation, but the local community objected on the grounds that Newham was losing its heritage.
The site was left unoccupied until 2002 when an engineering training facility Alpha BSE Training took over the building and continues to preserve the engine house without any public funding.
The Engine House
West Ham Engine House is located near to what used to be Stratford Depot, the world’s largest railway works at the time. The Lea Valley region is home to many industrial firsts including the iconic London Bus as we know it today, the first all British flight and the British Car with an internal combustion engine. One of the most significant engineering innovations of the Lea Valley was the Diode Valve, invented by John Ambrose Fleming.
In operation, a beam engine was typically kept running 24 hours per day, carrying the station’s base load, with the other five engines on standby or under maintenance. In storm conditions, all given engines could be run at once.
Heritage Engineering Learning Trust
A charity has now been established called the HELT (Heritage Engineering Learning Trust), to return the historic engine house and site to its former glory for the enjoyment of the community and the public at large. The Engine House will serve as a bridge between the past and the present, showcasing how engineering technology has evolved over time and how the future of engineering will shape us all.
The main objectives are
To restore, preserve and maintain the West Ham Pumping Station, a Grade II listed engine house in the London Borough of Newham and its beam engines.
To advance education in the subjects of engineering by establishing and maintaining a heritage engineering learning centre.
The Learning Hub
The Engine House’s main attraction is the two well-preserved Lilleshall wolfhound beam engines. These engines are the only known pair of beam engines in the world. Therefore, they should, together with the building, be restored for future generations and the nation.
The Engine House will serve as a community hub, hosting educational programs, workshops, and events aimed at engaging a wide range of communities and age groups to fostering an appreciation of engineering.
In addition, it will host workshops and exhibitions aimed at promoting renewable energy related solutions and technology. This will be undertaken in conjunction with industrial partners.
We welcome private viewing of the engine room. If you wish to get in touch please contact the learning hub on 020 8221 0321 or email your request to lily.sun@alphabse.co.uk